Piano-pedal



(No Moda.) 2 sheetssheen 1. S. SEELEY.

PIANO-.PEDAL No. 457,592. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. SHELBY.' PIANO PEDAL. No. 457,592. Patented Aug; 11, 1891.

Ss S4. i .Iwan/'ton Zvw/m? y m9 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

STEPHEN SEELEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIAN O-PEDAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,592, dated August 11, 1891.

Application filed April '7, 1891. Serial No. 387,945. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN SEELEY, of Boston, county of Suiolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Piano-Pedals, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication, like letters on the drawings ,representing like parts.

Pianos as now commonly made have what is called a harp-pedal, which upon being depressed or otherwise operated places a damper of suitable construction over the wires, thereby deadening the sound. The harppedal is used a great deal by children while practicing, and at such time it is continually held depressed. Owing to the location of the pedal, it is impossible for children to reach and hold it continually depressed, and hence oftentimes when practicing it is allowed to remain unoperated or in its normal condition, much to the discomfort of those obliged to remain near by.

This invention comprehends a spring-actuated pedal-holdiug latch adapted to be engaged and operated in opposition to its actuating-spring by the foot without the employment of any additional operating device.

Figure l shows in plan view a pedal-frame for a piano provided with three pedals, as usual, the harp-pedal having a lookin g device embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2, a front View of the parts shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, a horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 0c; and Fig. 4, a horizontal section of a modified form of locking device to be referred to.

The baseplate a, supported in any usual or suitable manner, has mounted on it the upper and lower pedals a a2, which are connected with the usual operating parts, and has also mounted on it the harp-pedal c, which is connected by a rod or bar c2 with any usual or suitable means employed to dampen the strings to deaden the sound. A spring b is attached to a lixed point acting upon the harp-pedal c, normally tending to keep it in elevated or dotted-line position. (See Fig. 3.) The pedal c is notched or otherwise formed to present a shoulder c. A curved latch d is pivoted at d', above the pedal c, and is normally held in its elevated or dotted-line position (see Fig. 3) by means of a spring d2. The outer or free end of the curved latch d is designed to engage a shoulder c', when both the latch and pedal c are depressed, to thereby hold it in such abnormal position.

To depress the pedal c and lock it, the operator places his foot on the curved latch and depresses it, carrying with it the pedal, and owing to the difference between the pivotal points of the latch and pedal the outer or free end of the latch will follow the top of said pedal until it engages the shoulder c. To release the pedal, the foot is placed ou the pedal and depressed, when the curved latch d will be elevated by means of its actuatingspring d2.

Referring to Fig. 4, the latch d is pivoted at d to the pedal c, and has formed ou its outer end a shoulder, which, when the lever and latch are simultaneously depressed, engages a fixed pin, which is released by depressing the pedal c independently, the result being substantially the same as in Figs. 'l to 3.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the particular form or construction of spring-actuated latch shown, as it is obvious that it may be varied according to the varied ideas of the skilled mechanic and still come within the spirit and scope of my invention-viz., to be engaged and operated in opposition to its actuating-spring by the foot without the addition of any operating devices.

I claim- The pedal c, combined with a spring-actuated pedal-holding latch cl, adapted to be engaged and operated in opposition to its actuating-spring by the foot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN SEELEY.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NoYEs, EDWARD F. ALLEN. 

